The NCAA Champions of 2013, led by Hall of Fame College Basketball Coach Rick Pitino, has alleged accusations of a sex scandal against them. According to CNN, recruits for Louisville were entertained by strippers at parties, which then turned into sex for many of them. Not just sex, but sex for money. Katina Powell, the woman behind the start-up of these allegations, says she was paid $10,000 to supply dancers for the recruits throughout four years by now-former Assistant Basketball Coach, Andre McGee.
But you probably know all of this.
What you may or may not realize is that this isn't surprising at all.
ESPN published their own "list of the worst scandals in college sports" back in 2012, following the ordeal with Coach Sandusky and Penn State. So, is it really all that surprising that sexual allegations toward yet another college involving their sports programs have been unveiled? No, it's not.
Whether or not you're a fan of the way college athletes are (or "aren't") treated, you're naive if you think America's system of college sports is rid of corruption and lies. Whether or not Head Coach Rick Pitino knew about what allegedly took place with recruits, it doesn't really matter, does it? Whether he knew about it or not, there's quite a bit of evidence showing that something went down at these recruiting parties, and now Louisville needs to come up with some evidence against it, unless they want their entire collegiate sports name to have a sex scandal label slapped on it.
The first thing I thought of when I heard about the allegations was, "Hmm, that's interesting." And while I felt an overwhelming sense of disgust for the players who, allegedly, took part in this, as well as the girls who thought this was the right way to get attention and money, it's important to remember the bigger picture: Louisville isn't the only place this has taken place. And I guarantee it won't be the last.
It's a tricky system. It's hard not to generalize the way college sports are sometimes portrayed. Not all players are the ones we find ourselves enraged over because they "got away" with something we think they've done. While I try not to be angry with the recruits that allegedly took part in this, or the coach who allegedly found the money to fund it, or the head coach who may or may not have allegedly turned his head to suspicious activities, it's easier to tell myself, "Stuff like this happens all the time across the country, and Louisville just happens to be the one being accused of it at this time."
So while Ms. Powell may or may not be right, the point is that money and sex are two things that drive this country. Sports generates a lot of money, and sex generates a lot of money. Therefore, using sex to increase performance in sports to generate more money, doesn't sound like anything too crazy. In fact, it sounds exactly like something someone would do.
So no, this isn't surprising at all.
This is America. And in America, sex and sports are two of the top things that sell.
